RecirculatingChillerTuneUpsOperationandMaintenanceofYourCoolestEquipment.docVIP

Recirculating Chiller Tune Ups: Operation and Maintenance of Your Coolest Equipment Figure 1: Lytron Kodiak recirculating chiller Recirculating chillers are cooling systems that provide precise temperature control as well as cooling below ambient temperature. (See Figure 1.) To ensure a? HYPERLINK /cooling-systems/standard/recirculating-chillers.aspx \o Recirculating Chillers chiller?is functioning as efficiently as possible and to minimize the risk of downtime, it’s important to properly operate and maintain it. Just like in a car, there are fluids that need to be checked and filters that need to be replaced. Every chiller installation is unique, and the conditions in your installation determine how often you should inspect and perform maintenance. The preventative maintenance period for chillers depends on a number of factors including: Number of hours of operation per day and type of pump used Environmental conditions and location of the chiller Coolant used in the system The type of maintenance that should be performed includes, but is not limited to: Cleaning condenser fins Coolant top off and flushing Filter and strainer cleaning or replacement Pump lubrication Figure 2: Chiller reservoir with algae growthalong top (the discolored areas) In addition to monthly, quarterly, or yearly maintenance, there is also a quick and easy weekly inspection that can be performed. All service and maintenance on a chiller should be performed by a qualified technician – ideally someone who has been trained on chillers, the equipment that is being cooled, and health and safety concerns. Also, before beginning any maintenance, the chiller should always be powered off and unplugged. Factors Impacting the Preventative Maintenance Schedule Some applications require the chiller to be running 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Other applications require only periodic use of the chiller. The maintenance schedule should take into account the amount of time the chiller is in o